PMC to use new system for power bills

The civic body can get details about all electricity meters centrally so that it can pay bills in time to avoid fines. The PMC will have to spend Rs 3 lakh per month to operate the system.

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to use a bill management system for promptly paying power bills to avoid disconnection of electrical supply of its establishments. There were earlier incidents of disconnection of power supply to PMC schools and offices by MSEDCL on account of non-payment of bills.

The civic body on Thursday tabled a proposal in the Standing Committee to approve the bill management system. The Standing Committee meeting is scheduled for next week. The PMC Electrical Department’s proposal states that the system will help save manpower and provide prompt and detailed information of electrical bills.

The civic body can get details about all electricity meters centrally so that it can pay bills in time to avoid fines. The PMC will have to spend Rs 3 lakh per month to operate the system.

Shriniwas Kandul, Head of PMC’s Electrical Department, told Sakal Times, “We have been facing the problem of non-payment of power bills on time and ensuing fines. MSEDCL would cut power supply to ward offices and schools. This happens due to a lack of details of bills in time. Right now, every department gets bills, which are paid as per their convenience. This leads to fines. The new system will have information about bills of all department at one point. Hence, bills can be paid in advance. We can save around Rs 3.5 lakh per month by paying power bills before the due date.”

According to the Electrical Department’s statistics, there are 4,500 electricity meters. The PMC gets power bills amounting to Rs 3.5 crore. These electricity meters are installed at schools, cultural halls and theatres, ward offices, hospitals, signals, street lights, gardens, etc.